Sandy was on his feet in an instant, his face glowing with anticipation.  In another minute he was in the cockpit of the little fighter that had been literally built around him and was fastening his safety belt.

Bill throttled his engines (the engines of the transport) as Sandy waved a hand at him and signaled to Miles to throw the switch that would bring the powerful suspension gear into play.

As Miles threw the switch, the floor of the transport divided into two segments and swung downward. Then the telescoping crane supporting the tiny Eaglet slid through the opening in the fuselage.

When the little plane was about twenty-five feet below the  under-carriage of the carrier, Sandy turned a crank that operated a high-speed worm manipulating the folding wings. There was a mechanical click as the locking lugs turned; then the wings began to turn on their hinges. Another click and the gull-type wings were locked in flying position . Bill's forehead was covered with cold, clammy perspiration. He couldn't ever get over the idea that it would be his fault if something went wrong with the mechanism and Sandy was hurt in one of those take-offs.

He held the ship steady while .he waited for the first blast of Sandy's engine.  As the roar of the powerful eight hundred and thirty h.p. Twin Wasp joined the crescendo of the two supercharged Diesels of the transport, a smile flitted on his lips.  His tanned face wrinkled with pride.

"The kid has what it takes," he said to himself as the Eaglet dropped away.